Garment spotting machine



Aug..23 1949 w. c. GLovER, JR

` GARMENT lsPoTTING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1947 INVENTOR Patented Aug. 23, 1949 G'RMENT SPOTTING MACHINE William C. Glover, Jr., Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Bill Glover Incorporated, Kansas City, M0., a corporation of Missouri pplication June 1-2, 19457, Serial No. 754,105

4 Claims.

The present invention .relates in general to apparatus for removing spots from fabrics and deals `more particularly with improvements in the construction of 'spotting machines which greatly facilitate their use.

An object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary work surface in convenient relationship to the main work surface of the machine. Another object is to render the auxiliary work surface easily movable and adjustable relative to the main work surface and an important feature resides in the provision made for draining the auxiliary surface without impairing its adjustability. Another feature lies in the provision of `a lint trap in the drainage system.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spotting machine with an auxiliary head peculiarly adapted by virtue of its shape and mounting `arrangement for supporting sleeves, pockets, trouser legs, cuffs andother specific parts of garments.

Another feature resides in the improved 'manner of detachably securing `a perforated work surface to the drain .pan of a spotting machine whereby there are no exposed screws or fastening devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spotting machine which isadjustable .in height and easily'tiltable.

A further object Vis to provide `a pedal assembly which is adjustably secured Vtoits -control vshaft or member in such Va way that its height relative to the oor maybe varied independently of or in conjunction with an adjustment in the height of the machine.

Other objects and features `will appear in the course .of the following description vof the invention.

In the accompanying 'drawings which form a part of the specification and are tobe read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts of the various views,

Fig. 1 is a `perspective view of a v'gar-ment', spotting machine embodying theinVentiOn,

Fig. 2 is a 'cross section taken through the swinging arm showing'the manner inwhich it is mounted on the machine and howfit in turnsupports the movable 'auxiliary head,

Fig. 3 isa fragmentary 'cross section of the movable head drawn to 'an enlargeds'cale,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged axial cross section vof one of the adjustable legs on the machine, and

Fig. V5 is a `-fragmen'tary cross section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, my machine has a pedestal lil with a laterally extending base portion Il. Fixedly positioned on the top of the pedestal there is a shallow pan `l2 covered by a flat plate I3 having a foraminous section i4. This forms the main work surface upon which garments are placed for the removal of spots.

Directly underneath the pan there is a U-shaped frame i5 which extends horizontally from the pedestal and supports a canvas garment catcher It laced to the frame. A tray ll having sockets i8 for receiving bottles or jars 'of chemicals is provided at one end of the work surface.

For spotting purposes `dry steam, wet steam or heated air may be. fed at will through a 4flexible vhose 2d to a nozzle 2i which the operator man-` ually holds by handle 22 in juxtaposition to the yarea lof cloth being treated. When not in use the handle is supported by bracket 23 as shown. The valve mechanism for admitting steam or air selectively to the hose is situated within the pedestal and is actuated by pedals 2t and 25 through the .medium of a crank 2e and a thrust rod 2l. The Valve mechanism itself is not shown since it is essentially like that disclosed in my copend-ing application, Serial 648,268, filed February 18, 1946, now Patent No. 2,455,755, December '7, 1948. A normally closed door 28 in the side of the pedestal gives access to. the mechanism for purposes of servicing and adjustment.

The `steam passing through the fabric and perforations I4 condenses and flows down the inclined bottom of the pan I2 to a drain le (see Fig. 2).

The machine stands on three adjustable legs `each of which-telescopes into a cylindrical barrel 3| fixedly secured to the pedestal. Each leg is threaded to receive a stationary screw stud 32 which is aliixed at its upper end to the top of the barrel. By turning the legs they thus are advanced axially of the barrel whereby the height of the working surface may easily be adjusted to suit the operator. Moreover by adjusting the individual legs differently the machine may be tilted so as to incline the working surface thereof slightly if desired. The foot of each leg is provided with an aperture 29 to permit screwing or bolting same to the floor when V'properly adjusted.

In order to compensate for any adjustment y'in the height ofthe machine pedals =24 vand 25 are arranged on a slotted lever 33 which straddles a tongue .or boss 34 on the end of the crank shaft 35, the lever normally being clamped tightly against the shoulder on either side of the boss by means of a bolt 31 and washer 38. In the event the machine is elevated, bolt 31 may be loosened to permit the pedals to be lowered correspondingly after which the bolt is of course retightened. In this way the spacing of the pedals relative to the floor may be maintained even though the height of the working surface of the machine is changed; the arrangement also permits adjustment of the pedals to the height above the floor best suited to any partcula operator. Y

Above the work surface is a hollow swinging arm 4l! carrying an auxiliary head adapted to turn in a horizontal plane about the end of the arm. This head comprises an elongated shallow pan 4l covered by a flat foraminous sheet 42 which forms a supplementary work surface. As shown in Fig. 1 the sheet is wide at one end and narrow at the other.

There is an aperture in the bottom of the pan 4I below which a flanged hollow stem 43 is positioned, the stem being secured to the under side of the pan by spinning the material around the margin of the aperture downwardly and outwardly as indicated at 44 into an annular recess 45 in the stem. The stem, encircled by a split sleeve or bushing 46, ts into a socket in the end of arm 40, thumb screw 41 being provided to adjust the t of the collar and hence the freedom with which the stem can turn in the socket.

A strap 56 bent in the form of a shallow V extends longitudinally of the auxiliary head. Its ends are welded to the under side of the foraminous cover 42 at widely spaced apart points and it has a nut 5I welded to its upper surface at the lowest point of the strap. Crossing underneath this strap is a shorter V-shaped strap 52 disposed laterally of the head and also welded at its ends to the under side of the foraminous cover.

A bolt 53 extending upwardly through a shoulder washer 54 positioned in the base of stem 43 screws into nut 5! to anchor the cover 42 on the pan 4 l, it being understood that the turned-down iiange around the cover prevents lateral displaceg ment thereof with respect to the pan. The shoulder Washer is provided with apertures 55 arranged in a circle about the head of the bolt; these permit condensed moisture in the pan to flow downwardly through the stem and into the hollow swinging arm, the washer thus serving as a strainer or retainer cup for holding back lint and the like. g

The socket at the opposite end of the swinging arm 40 fits over a hollow stud 56, a split sleeve or bushing 51 being interposed between the two and tightened by set screw 58 to take up any undesired play. It will be seen that the lower portion of the hollow stud is externally threaded and extends through a hole in the bottom of tray l1. Above the threaded portion is an integral ange 59 which is drawn down and clamped tightly to the bottom of the tray by a nut G0.

The swinging support for the auxiliary head permits it to be pushed out of the Way when not in use and drawn back into a convenient working position when needed. There is unlimited flexibility in the way the head may be adjusted for spotting purposes and this makes for maximum convenience and emciency in its use.

4 Either the narrow end or the wide end may be turned into working position, the former being used in processing sleeves for example while the latter is used for trouser cuits, knees, pockets, etc. Whatever its position, after the steam from nozzle 2| passes through the garment disposed on the auxiliary head it condenses and is carried away through the swinging arm 40 to the pan l2 of the machine from which it drains through the outlet I9.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinbefore set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.

Inasmuch as many possible embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It also will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a garment spotting machine, a stationary support, a hollow vertical stud on said support, a substantially horizontal hollow arm pivoted at one end on said stud whereby it is adapted to swing in an are about said stud, an elongated shallow pan pivotally mounted on the free end of said arm and adapted to turn in a horizontal plane about said free end of the arm, said pan having a drain communicating with the bore of said swinging arm, whereby liquid can drain from the pan into the bore of the swinging arm and leave the arm through the bore of said hollow stud, a foraminous cover on the pan, a threaded member aixed to the under side of said cover directly over the drain in said pan, a spider bridging the drain opening, and another threaded member extending through the spider and mating with said first member to draw the cover towards said spider thereby to maintain said cover on the pan.

2. In a garment spotting machine, a stationary support, a hollow vertical stud mounted on said support, a substantially horizontal hollow arm pivoted at one end on said stud whereby it is adapted to swing in an arc about said stud, an elongated shallow pan having a downwardly extending drain pipe, a socket in the free end of said arm for receiving said pipe whereby said pan is so supported by said arm as to be rotatable about the axis of said pipe, a foraminous cover on the pan, a nut aixed to the under side of said foraminous cover in alignment with the axis of said pipe, a shoulder washer in the lower` end of the pipe, a bolt extending through said washer and threaded into said nut to hold the cover on the pan, said washer having perforations around the shank of the bolt to permit liquid to drain down said pipe into Ysaid hollow arm.

3. In a garment spotting machine, a shallow pan having a centrally disposed drainage opening, a foraininous -cover on said pan, a threaded member afxed to the under side of said cover directly over said drainage opening, a spider bridging the drainage opening, and another threaded member extending through the spider and mating with said rst member to draw the cover towards said spider thereby to maintain said cover on the pan.

4. In a garment spotting machine sialrlow REFERENCES CITED pan having a centrally disposed drainage opening The following references are of record in the a Ioraminous cover on the pan, a pair of crossed me of this patent: straps affixed at their ends to the under side of said cover and intersecting at a point aligned with 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS said drainage opening, said straps being spaced Number Name Date below said cover at their point of intersection and 963,723 Pierce July 5, 1910 having a fastening member secured to them at 1,086,619 Rinebold Feb. 10, 1914 said point, a spider bridging the drainage open- 10 1,291,484 Grosse Jan. 14, 1919 ing and a second fastening member extending 1,394,631 LllShk OC'G- 25, 1921 through said spider and mating with said rst gung ptmember to draw said cov oward a' 'de op m an 1 er t s d Sp1 r 1,581,738 Higgins Apr. 2o, 1926 WHLIAM C. GLOVER J 1,879,033 Beede Sept. 27, 1932 R 15 2,284,572 Holder May 26, 1942 2,299,634 Lambert Oct. 20, 1942 

